Pulling and knocking-over device for two needle bed knitting machines

ABSTRACT

A hooking-up and knocking-over device for a two needle bed knitting machine comprising a pulling comb vertically moving between the needle beds and a knocking-over member moving also vertically between the needle beds, the latter having imported a rotating movement in addition to a traversing movement.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Karel Bernard Marie Bruelemans Gentbrugge, Belgium [21] Appl. No. 6,480

[22] Filed Jan. 28, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [73] Assignee Fabrique Nationale dArmes de Guerre Societe Anonyme Herstallez-Liege, Belgium [32] Priority Feb. 7, 1969 [3 3 Belgium [54] PULLING AND KNOCKlNG-OVER DEVICE FOR TWO NEEDLE BED KNITTING MACHINES 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S. Cl 66/149 [51] Int. Cl D041) 15/88 [50] Field ..66/147-153 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,250,094 5/1966 Monk 66/149 3,375,683 4/1968 Joseph... 60/149 3,376,710 4/1968 Joseph 66/150 FOREIGN PATENTS 690,167 4/1953 Great Britain 66/149 968,001 8/1964 Great Britain.... 66/149 991,975 5/1965 Great Britain... 66/149 677,936 11/1961 ltaly 66/149 1,526,491 4/1968 France 66/149 958,075 5/1964 Great Britain 66/149 Primary Examiner- Ronald Feldbaum Attorney-Richards & Geier ABSTRACT: A hooking-up and knocking-over device for a two needle bed knitting machine comprising a pulling comb vertically moving between the needle beds and a knockingover member moving also vertically between the needle beds, the latter having imported a rotating movement in addition to a traversing movement.

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mtmen .mu 1 m2 SHEET 2 [IF 4 Arranuzg PATENTEU JAIN 1 m2 SHEEI 6 UF 4 INVENTOR. .B, .B Ue/eman5 BY ATTolLNss PULLING AND KNOCKING-OVER DEVICE FOR TWO NEEDLE BED KNITTING MACHINES This invention relates to a pulling and knocking-over device for two needle bed knitting machines such as, e.g., machines for knitting rib borders and the like. An important object of the invention is to provide a device ensuring not only a suitable pulling upon the knitted goods, but allowing also an automatic release of the pulling comb for knitting, this being particularly useful when the machine is provided with a device for automatically transferring, e.g., rib borders.

According to this invention, this object is attained by a pulling and knocking-over device comprising substantially a pulling comb vertically moving between the needle beds, it being also possible to impart a rotating movement to said member in addition to the traversing movement. Preferably, said pulling comb and said knocking-over member are mounted on supports sliding about vertical axes, said supports being driven from a common motor through a pulling shaft and a knocking-over shaft, it being possible to interconnect momentarily said shafts.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the detailed description of an embodi ment given by way of illustration and without any limitation, reference being made to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section of a knitting machine'provided with the device according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show respectively the pulling comb and the knocking-over member;

FIG. 4 shows the driving mechanism for the pulling and knocking-over device according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view according to the arrow F5 ofFIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 3 show respectively the pulling and knocking-over device in three characteristic positions.

The machine represented on FIG. 1 comprises a frame 1 carrying two inclined needle beds 2 and 3. Between said needle beds, may be inserted a pulling comb 4 fastened on a support 5 sliding along a guiding axis 6. Said support 5 may be driven upwardly or downwardly from a pulling shaft 7 through the intermediary of an endless chain 8 fastened at 9 to the said support, said chain passing about a pinion 10 keyed on the shaft 7 and the reversing pulley 11 with tightener 12.

The knocking-over member 13 is mounted on a profiled support 14 which is itself pivoted in 15 on a sliding support 16 which may be shifted along the guiding axis 6. The support 16 may be driven upwardly or downwardly from a knocking-over shaft 17 through the intermediary of an endless chain 18 passing about pinion 19 keyed on the shaft 17 and about the reversing pulley 20 with tightener 21. As shown on FIG. 4, the device is driven through a motor 22 the output shaft 23 of which is provided with a pinion 24 driving an endless chain 25 which rotates a toothed wheel 26 mounted on the pulley shaft 7. However, the wheel 26 may be integral with said shaft through the intermediary of a magnetic clutch 27.

On the shaft 7, is also keyed a toothed wheel 28 driving a chain 29 passing about the toothed wheel 30 mounted freely on the knocking-over shaft 17 with which it may be however made integral through the intermediary of an electromagnetic clutch 31.

On the shaft 7, is keyed a wheel 32 driving, through the chain 33, a wheel 34 mounted freely on a camshaft 35 with which it may be however made integral by means of the magnetic clutch 36.

The shaft 7 comprises also a ratchet wheel 37 which'may be made integral with shaft 7 through the intermediary of an electromagnetic clutch 38.

On the camshaft 35 and the knocking-over shaft 17, are provided two wheels 39 and 40 provided with pawls 41 and 42 which are actuated respectively through electromagnets 43 and 44.

The camshaft 35 carries a disc having three distinct profiled tracks which may each actuate one of the microswitches 4647 and 48. A cam disc 49 provided on shaft 17 may also actuate n microswitch 50.

A second camshaft 51 carrying earns 52 and 53 allows the actuation ofmicroswitches 54 and 55 respectively.

The above-described device operates substantially as follows;

a. Raising of the pulling comb and the knocking-over member The start of the operating cycle of the described devices is given by a signal from the programming device of the machine. The clutches 27 and 31 are engaged and the clutches 38 and 36 are disengaged. After a few seconds, the motor 22 is started, thereby driving shaft 7 and also the shaft 17, since the clutches 27 and 31 are engaged. In this way, the knockingover member is shifted upwardly. During the last portion of its upward stroke, the knocking-over member is tilted by the contact of its oscillating support 14 with a roller 56 mounted on the stationary portion of the machine.

When the knocking-over member has reached its uppermost position, it is locked under the action of the pawl 42 so that it may not fall again when the clutch is disengaged. Simultaneously, the clutch 31 is disengaged by actuating the microswitch 50, whereas the clutch 38 is engaged. In this way, the comb 4 raises alone, before the knocking-over member 13 and engages between the needle beds 2 and 3. When the comb 4 has reached its upper position, it is locked under the action of pawl 41 controlled by the electromagnet 43 thereof, whereas motor 22 is stopped under the action of the microswitch 46, the clutch 27 being disengaged. At that time, only the clutch 36 is still engaged.

b. Pulling during knitting The step by step pulling movement is imparted to the comb 4 from the ratchet wheel 37 of the pulling shaft 7. The pulling action may be introduced or cancelled by suitably actuating the clutch 38. The control of the latter comes from the programming device of the machine. To allow the pulling action, the electromagnet 43 of pawl 41 is energized to allow the rotation of the camshaft 35.

After having laid the first loop course, the pawl 41 is removed, while the pulling shaft 7 to which a slight angular movement is imparted, rotates the toothed wheel 34. Since the clutch 36 is engaged, the camshaft rotates, thereby lowering the comb 4 sufficiently to tighten the first loop course. The pulling action is immediately interrupted by actuating clutch 38. After having knitted the second loop course, the pulling action is reintroduced and is maintained during the knitting of all the subsequent loop courses. Then, only the comb 4 is lowered. This movement of the comb only continues until the desired lead of the comb on the knocking-over member is reached. In fact, this lead represents the distance necessary to allow the disconnection. When this lead is reached, the clutch 31 is engaged by the microswitch 47, whereas the electromag net 44 of pawl 42 is energized to remove pawl 42. The knocking-over member may be then lowered together with the comb until a knitting to the desired length is reached.

The comb 4 occupies a lead X relating to the knocking-over member 13 (FIG. 6). Since said member 13 is actuated towards the knitted goods by a spring (not shown for clarity of drawing), it will push back said knitted goods as soon as the pulling action of the comb 4 ceases. For this purpose, a pulse is given from "the camshaft 51, thereby driving motor 22 for a given time, the clutches 38 and 31 being disengaged, while the clutch 27 is engaged, the clutch 36 being itself still engaged. The comb 4 being raised to be only at a distance x from the knocking-over member (FIG. 7), the latter pushes back the knitted goods which are thereby removed from the hooks of comb 4.

c. Return of the hooking comb A signal is given from the camshaft 51, thereby engaging the clutch 27, the clutch 36 being already engaged, while the clutch 38 and the clutch 31 are disengaged. The motor 22 is then started in the opposite direction, thereby bringing the comb 4 in low position, the motor being stopped when the microswitch 48 is actuated by the corresponding track of disc 45. The clutch 27 is then disengaged and the clutch 38, engaged.

Thus, it will be observed that the operation of the abovedescribed device is fully automatic, so that it is possible to provide the machine with an automatic rib border transfer device with all economic advantages of such an automation.

means momentarily interconnecting said shafts and means rotating said knocking-over member.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control signals determining the operational sequence of the device are given, on one hand, from the conventional programming mechanism of the machine and, on the other hand, through two camshafts actuating a series of microswitches.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein, during the pulling phase, the pulling comb is moved in lead on the knocking-over member, means being provided to reduce said lead when disconnecting. 

1. A hooking-up and knocking-over device for a two-needle bed knitting machine, comprising in combination, a pulling comb, a slidable support carrying said comb, a knocking-over member, a slidable support carrying said knocking-over member, said supports sliding about common vertical axes, whereby said comb and said knocking-over member move vertically between the needle beds, a pulling shaft actuating the first-mentioned support, a knocking-over shaft actuating the second-mentioned support, a motor driving both shafts, means momentarily interconnecting said shafts and means rotating said knocking-over member.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control signals determining the operational sequence of the device are given, on one hand, from the conventional programming mechanism of the machine and, on the other hand, through two camshafts actuating a series of microswitches.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein, during the pulling phase, the pulling comb is moved in lead on the knocking-over member, means being provided to reduce said lead when disconnecting. 